Sharapova advances in Linz, Pierce injured

Maria Sharapova has reached the quarterfinals for the 13th time in 14 tournaments this year, beating Eleni Daniilidou 7-5, 6-1 in the Generali Ladies.

Reported by Indo-Asian News Service

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Liz, Austria:

US Open champion Maria Sharapova has reached the quarterfinals for the 13th time in 14 tournaments this year, beating Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 7-5, 6-1 in the Generali Ladies.
But 1999 Linz champ Mary Pierce had to be carried off the court on a stretcher after hurting her left knee in a fall while she was on the brink of beating Vera Zvonareva in the last match of the day.
Sharapova broke Daniilidou at 5-5 in the first set then cruised.
"I have played so much tennis lately that I felt a bit exhausted at the start of the match," she said on Thursday.
"But I settled down well after the first set." Sharapova, who failed to reach the quarterfinals only at the French Open, will play fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic in the
next round.
Pierce led Zvonareva 6-4, 6-5, had rallied from a break down in each set and missed three match points when she fell behind the baseline and had to retire.
The left knee injury was a cruel blow for the two-time Grand Slam champion, who was playing only her eighth tournament this year after right foot injuries.
In the quarterfinals, Zvonareva will meet third-seeded Patty Schnyder, who rallied to beat wild card Nathalie Dechy of France 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-3.
Schnyder, last year's runner-up, led 5-2 before losing the first set. In the second and third she converted all four of her break points. (AP)